This year, the organizers of the AvD Oldtimer Grand Prix that will be held at the Nürburgring from 12 to 14 August 2016 have made diversity more important than ever: the excellent historic racing programme will feature almost everything that was fast and exciting in the past 60 years, from the historic FIA Formula 1 Championship to the former junior classes.
Demonstration drives and regularity tests will complement the program with pre-war racing cars, touring cars from the DTM and STW and, for the first time, rally cars.
Renowned manufacturers open their factory museums and show unique treasures from motorsport history on and off the track. There will also be club meetings of sports car icons with numerous automotive highlights. For the first time, the weekend will be kicked off by a track day, with around 100 classic cars, youngtimers and super sports cars expected to attend on Friday.
With night races again
Almost 20 races and regularity tests are on the program at the AvD Oldtimer Grand Prix on 12 to 14 August 2016. And this year's line-up will be more top-class and varied than at almost any other classic event. Formula 1 cars from the Ford-Cosworth era and sports car prototypes from the 1960s and 1970s will make the asphalt shake just as much as the popular racing cars of the German Racing Championship from 1972 to 1981.
The atmospheric highlight of the sporting program is the evening race of the Le Mans cars of the 1950s: incredibly elegant sports cars and GTs that drive into the twilight in the one-hour race and exude genuine endurance racing flair.
And the second race of these two-seater racing cars and GTs up to 1960/61 will also attract a lot of attention: on Sunday afternoon, the drivers will show how the endurance classic on the Sarthe once began during a Le Mans start demonstration: Only after a short sprint by the drivers across the start-finish straight do they jump into the car, start the race car and drive off: a spectacle that no one in the grandstand is guaranteed to miss.
There's good news for touring car and GT fans as well: the round of the AvD Touring Car and GT Trophy on Saturday morning will be extended and held as a one-hour race this year.
Mercedes Arena becomes Mecca for sports car enthusiasts
Porsche is celebrating the 40th anniversary of its transaxle models this year - the 924 introduced in 1976 and its fellow 928, 944 and 968 models are the focus of interest in the Zuffenhausen-based company's large area in the Mercedes Arena. Where racing cars duel at other events, the AvD Oldtimer Grand Prix traditionally focuses on the fascination of sports cars. This is why models from other global brands are also on display here, turning the area into a festival site for super sports cars.
In addition to the many Porsche customers and guests who contribute to the great showcase of dream cars with their vehicles, it is the members of the Ferrari Club Germany and the German Maserati Club who can be found here. Lovers of classic Italian lines will also be present at the Alfa Romeo club meeting. The participation of McLaren in this area is also new.
Trackday instead of Historic Marathon on Friday
New at the AvD Oldtimer Grand Prix this year is the program on Friday. While the free practice and qualifying sessions for all racing classes are scheduled on the Grand Prix circuit, fascinating vehicles will meet on the Nordschleife for the Trackday. The non-classified driving event is open to classic cars, youngtimers and super sports cars. It is designed for drivers who want to drive their classic car on the most beautiful race track in the world.
Around 100 participants are expected to take to the track in performance-oriented groups - this should also be a special experience for spectators. Admission around the Nordschleife is free and invites you to "kibitz".
The track day replaces the traditional Historic Marathon. It is intended to be a contemporary offer for drivers of special vehicles.
The organizers of the AvD Oldtimer Grand Prix have enlisted Jörg Bratke von Bergen as the organizer who, among other things, as the team principal of his classic racing team, has extensive know-how when it comes to adequately moving a fast classic car. "The Historic Marathon was naturally a magnet for spectators, and I enjoyed taking part as a driver myself," he says. "But now we hope to be able to offer the drivers and spectators something very exciting and new.
The track day will not only feature classic and vintage cars, but also super sports cars. With their looks and performance they fit in very well with the entire environment of the AvD Oldtimer Grand Prix." The Trackday is not planned as a pure full-throttle event. Bratke: "We have put together a program that clearly stands out from other trackdays on the Nordschleife. Not only the exclusive environment at the classic car event, but also the framework data are different. The participants receive a lot of support and service, the fantastic vehicles are divided into performance-oriented groups and instructors accompany the whole event. This means that fast Nordschleife veterans will get their money's worth, as will the owners of unique vehicles who want to fulfill their dream of the Nordschleife for the first time."
The first cars will take to the track from 9:00 a.m., after the end of the track day at 6:00 p.m. the participants will meet for an after-race barbecue in the AvD Oldtimer Grand Prix drivers' / team tent in the paddock. Some of the most beautiful cars can be admired there as they are allowed to drive right up to the paddock in front of the tent. And the picture should be very interesting as style icons such as an Aston Martin GT12, a Bizzarrini 5300 Strada, Porsche 930 Turbo or Ferrari 512BB LM Thomson have been announced.